The Modern Humanitarian and Development Leader: Make a Greater Impact by Creating a High Performance Team while Avoiding Stre

Aid for Aid Workers
  • 5.0 (17)
  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

Are you a humanitarian or international development leader who wants to make a greater impact without the overwhelm and overwork? If you want to create a high performance team that meets the changing demands of the humanitarian and development sector without sacrificing your wellbeing, you're in the right place! In less time than it takes to drink your powdered milk Nescafe you will learn: - How to empower a diverse team to perform their best despite cultural and personality differences - What’s keeping you from greater productivity and how to overcome it - How to meet the leadership needs of the modern humanitarian and development sector while making a greater impact without the stress I’m your host Torrey Peace and after 12 years’ working in humanitarian and development as well as coaching hundreds of leaders across the UN, INGO and civil society globally, I have observed firsthand the overwork and overwhelm that is so common and leads to unnecessary stress. The good news is I have discovered how you can lead differently in order to step out of overwhelm and start making a bigger impact than you thought possible, and I want to share it with you. Join me every Monday to learn practical insights and tips to help you become a modern humanitarian and international development leader. Start by listening to fan favorite - episode 7 - "A Surprising Way to Ensure Team Success So You Can Make a Greater Impact as a Humanitarian and International Development Leader."

  1. Stop Reacting: Overcome Uncertainty and Take Control of Your NGO Career

    1D AGO

    Stop Reacting: Overcome Uncertainty and Take Control of Your NGO Career

    Are you steering your leadership career—or just reacting to whatever opportunities and funding happen to appear? In a sector shaped by funding shifts, restructuring, and constant uncertainty, it’s easy to feel like your career path is out of your hands. This episode helps you move from reacting to circumstances to intentionally creating a leadership direction that gives you clarity, confidence, and control—even when everything around you feels unpredictable. In this episode, you’ll discover: Why so many humanitarian leaders feel forced into career changes and the hidden mindset that keeps them stuck in reaction mode.A practical three-step approach to designing your own path instead of waiting for roles to appear.Powerful reflection questions that help you clarify your vision, align your actions, and build momentum toward the leadership future you actually want. Press play now to learn how to turn uncertainty into direction and start shaping a leadership path that’s driven by your vision—not your circumstances. Watch on YouTube Here Ready to Lead with Clarity — Even in Uncertainty?If this episode resonated with you and you’re ready to stop reacting and start leading with intention, I invite you to join Becoming the Modern Humanitarian and Development Leader. In this six-week course, you’ll clarify the impact you want to have, let go of habits that keep you overextended, empower your team, and gain back time while increasing your effectiveness. The next cohort begins March 10th. Learn more and register here: https://www.aidforaidworkers.com/modern-course I’d love to support you inside the course.

    13 min
  2. The #1 Mistake Keeping NGO Teams Dependent

    FEB 9

    The #1 Mistake Keeping NGO Teams Dependent

    Do you feel like your team always brings you problems but rarely offers real solutions? If you're constantly fielding the same questions or feel like your team can't move without your input, the issue might not be your team—it might be how much you believe in them. This episode challenges a common leadership blindspot that’s quietly holding your people back. In this episode you'll learn: Discover the subtle ways leaders unintentionally shut down initiative and creativity.Learn how to ask questions that build ownership instead of dependence.Understand how to spot and amplify hidden potential in your team—starting today. Listen now to shift from micromanager to empowering leader and watch your team grow in confidence, initiative, and problem-solving power. Watch on YouTube Here What Is Your Leadership Style? Free Quiz: Want to know how to lead better? It starts by understanding your leadership style. To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader. Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

    9 min
  3. The Question Smart NGO Leaders Ask Before Acting

    FEB 2

    The Question Smart NGO Leaders Ask Before Acting

    Have you ever worked hard to “fix” a problem—only to watch it come back again and again no matter what you do? As an NGO leader, your time and energy are too valuable to waste on band-aid solutions. This episode speaks directly to the frustration of constantly firefighting recurring issues and helps you shift toward solving the real root causes so you can create lasting change, stronger teams, and more sustainable leadership. In this episode, you’ll gain: A simple question that helps you identify whether you’re solving the wrong problem before you take action.Real-world examples of how leaders often mistake technical issues for deeper emotional or systemic blockers.A practical method to uncover root causes so you can prevent problems from repeating instead of constantly reacting. Press play now to learn how to stop wasting effort on temporary fixes and start leading like an architect of long-term team success. Watch on YouTube Here What Is Your Leadership Style? Free Quiz: Want to know how to lead better? It starts by understanding your leadership style. To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader. Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

    7 min
  4. The #1 Underrated Leadership Skill for High Performance NGO Teams

    JAN 26

    The #1 Underrated Leadership Skill for High Performance NGO Teams

    What if the leadership skill your burned-out team needs most isn’t more urgency—but more fun? If you’re leading in high-stakes humanitarian or development work, you’re likely carrying constant pressure, decision fatigue, and the fear that lightness equals irresponsibility—this episode flips that belief and shows how integrating fun into serious work can actually reduce burnout, restore empathy, and help your team perform better under stress. Learn why fun is a core resilience tool that calms the nervous system and prevents burnout in crisis-driven teamsDiscover practical, professional ways to integrate fun directly into daily work without undermining credibilityUnlock more creativity, motivation, and follow-through by turning heavy tasks into engaging, energizing work Press play now to learn how making work more fun can immediately strengthen your leadership, protect your energy, and help your team thrive under pressure. Watch on YouTube Here! What Is Your Leadership Style? Free Quiz: Want to know how to lead better? It starts by understanding your leadership style. To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader. Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

    6 min
  5. Stop Waiting for Permission: Real NGO Leadership

    JAN 19

    Stop Waiting for Permission: Real NGO Leadership

    What if leadership isn’t about solving everyone’s problems—but about creating a vision so clear your team doesn’t need you to? If you’re feeling stuck managing tasks, constantly firefighting, or unsure how to prioritize your time as a leader, this episode speaks directly to that tension. It explores how gaining clarity around your unique leadership vision can help you stop reacting to the status quo and start intentionally shaping the team culture and impact you actually want. In this episode, you’ll learn how to: Clarify a leadership vision that excites you and guides how you spend your time and energyShift from being the chief problem-solver to empowering your team through coachingBuild a stronger, more intentional team culture by leading with purpose rather than permission Press play to discover how defining your unique leadership impact can save you time, sharpen your focus, and help you lead with confidence instead of exhaustion. Watch on YouTube Here What Is Your Leadership Style? Free Quiz: Want to know how to lead better? It starts by understanding your leadership style. To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader. Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

    6 min
  6. Are You Actually Thriving? (Or Just Hiding Burnout?) as a NGO Leader

    JAN 12

    Are You Actually Thriving? (Or Just Hiding Burnout?) as a NGO Leader

    Are your good leadership habits actually driving you closer to burnout? If you’re a humanitarian or development leader who’s constantly saying yes, pushing for perfection, and always trying to be available for your team — you may unknowingly be suffering from High Performance Syndrome. This episode explores the subtle emotional cues that reveal whether you're truly thriving or on the path to exhaustion. In this episode you’ll learn: - How to identify if your motivation is coming from a healthy place or from obligation. - Discover a powerful emotional test to prevent burnout before it starts. - Hear real-life stories of NGO leaders who redefined what being a “team player” truly means — and reclaimed their time and energy. Listen now to uncover the mindset shift that could save your energy and amplify your impact as a modern humanitarian leader. Watch on YouTube Here What Is Your Leadership Style? Free Quiz: Want to know how to lead better? It starts by understanding your leadership style. To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader. Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

    9 min
  7. Stop Panicking: 3 Ways to Lead Through Uncertainty

    JAN 5

    Stop Panicking: 3 Ways to Lead Through Uncertainty

    This episode is one of the most popular for 2025 for good reason. Uncertainty has become even more of a reality for NGO leaders with all the funding cuts and manmade as well as natural crises. The good news is there are ways to cope and be more resilient for 2026. In this episode we dive into how you can transform uncertainty from a source of stress and anxiety into a catalyst for growth and resilience. More specifically you're going to learn: The surprising link between your perspective on uncertainty and your leadership effectiveness.One simple mindset shift that transforms anxiety into empowerment.How to uncover hidden opportunities in the most unpredictable challenges. Whether you’re facing funding cuts or grappling with global unpredictability, this episode will help you lead with clarity, confidence, and courage. Watch on YouTube Here WHAT IS YOUR LEADERSHIP STYLE? QUIZ Want to know how to lead better? It starts by understanding your leadership style. To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader. Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

    13 min
  8. NGO Leaders: Find Your Community So You Thrive in 2026 (Beyond Your Org)

    12/29/2025

    NGO Leaders: Find Your Community So You Thrive in 2026 (Beyond Your Org)

    Have you ever set powerful leadership goals—only to fall back into old habits a few months later despite your best intentions? If you’re trying to lead differently in 2026—by empowering your team, setting boundaries, and stepping out of constant firefighting—this episode helps you understand why willpower isn’t the problem and how the right environment and community can make lasting change finally feel possible. In this episode, you’ll gain: A clear understanding of why even committed leaders struggle to sustain change without the right support system.Insight into how an external, values-aligned community can accelerate your growth and confidence as a leader.Practical criteria for identifying (or creating) a community that fuels momentum instead of draining your energy. Listen now to discover how the right community can help you stay aligned, energized, and on track to thrive as a leader throughout 2026. Watch on YouTube Here What Is Your Leadership Style? Free Quiz: Want to know how to lead better? It starts by understanding your leadership style. To find out yours, take my free quiz “What Is Your Leadership Style” - you’ll immediately find out your default style, how it may be impacting your team and a few practical ways to become an even better leader. Just click on the link fill out your quiz and click submit. This podcast empowers international development and humanitarian NGO UN leaders to achieve high performance teams, fostering diversity, inclusion, and wellbeing, overcoming burnout and overwhelm, while maximizing impact and productivity.

    14 min
See All (106)

Trailer

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Are you a humanitarian or international development leader who wants to make a greater impact without the overwhelm and overwork? If you want to create a high performance team that meets the changing demands of the humanitarian and development sector without sacrificing your wellbeing, you're in the right place! In less time than it takes to drink your powdered milk Nescafe you will learn: - How to empower a diverse team to perform their best despite cultural and personality differences - What’s keeping you from greater productivity and how to overcome it - How to meet the leadership needs of the modern humanitarian and development sector while making a greater impact without the stress I’m your host Torrey Peace and after 12 years’ working in humanitarian and development as well as coaching hundreds of leaders across the UN, INGO and civil society globally, I have observed firsthand the overwork and overwhelm that is so common and leads to unnecessary stress. The good news is I have discovered how you can lead differently in order to step out of overwhelm and start making a bigger impact than you thought possible, and I want to share it with you. Join me every Monday to learn practical insights and tips to help you become a modern humanitarian and international development leader. Start by listening to fan favorite - episode 7 - "A Surprising Way to Ensure Team Success So You Can Make a Greater Impact as a Humanitarian and International Development Leader."

Information